Senate 845

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 845

By Senator Willis

[Introduced March 20, 2025; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §15-1B-15, relating to the national guard; providing definitions; clarifying eligibility for the TRICARE program; authorizing reimbursement when certain requirements are met; requiring policies and guidelines; clarifying funding; and providing an effective date.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1B. NATIONAL GUARD.

§15-1B-15. National guard servicemember's medical readiness act.

(a) To ensure and facilitate the medical readiness of the  State's National Guard soldiers and airmen, this section is known and may be cited as the "West Virginia National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act".

(b) The West Virginia national guard TRICARE premium reimbursement program is created within the military department.

(c) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "eligible recipient" means an individual who is:

(1) A resident of this state and who is a member of the West Virginia National Guard; and

(2) Eligible for TRICARE reserve select or TRICARE dental program coverage.

(d) The military department may award reimbursement grants to an eligible recipient who meets the reimbursement application requirements established by the adjutant general for reimbursement of one or both of the following:

(1) A premium paid for individual coverage for an eligible recipient through the TRICARE reserve select program; or

(2) A premium paid for individual coverage for an eligible recipient through the TRICARE dental program.

(3) A premium paid for family coverage for an eligible recipient through the TRICARE reserve select program or the TRICARE dental program; Provided, that, the reimbursement shall only be in the amount of the premium paid for individual coverage.

(e) If any portion of the premiums eligible for reimbursement in this section are later paid for, reimbursed, or otherwise provided to an eligible recipient by the federal government or any other state program, then that portion shall cease to be reimbursed by the TRICARE premium reimbursement program established in this section.

(f) The adjutant general shall adopt and publish written policies and guidelines to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(g) This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated or expended pursuant to this section unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general appropriations act.

(h)  This section becomes effective on July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify eligibility for the TRICARE program; authorize reimbursement when certain requirements are met; require policies and guidelines; and clarify funding.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.